So why is TikTok being banned? The real story isn’t about data privacy – it’s about power and control. The TikTok ban helps us see something that’s usually hidden: our democracy is mostly an illusion, controlled by wealthy business owners and their allies in government.
The TikTok Ban: Pulling Back the Curtain
TikTok scared powerful people because:
- Regular people could easily share different views about world events
- Young people saw news about Palestine and other conflicts that TV networks usually don’t show
- The wealthy people who own American media companies couldn’t control what went viral
- The app made it harder to make everyone believe the same story about world events
This Isn’t New: How the Powerful Have Always Controlled What We Think
The Iran Story (1950s)
When regular people started learning that America helped overthrow Iran’s government to help oil companies:
- The CIA created a secret program called Operation Mockingbird
- They paid hundreds of journalists to write stories that made America look good
- They put CIA agents inside news companies
- They made sure newspapers and TV stations told the story they wanted
The Nicaragua Story (1980s)
When people started questioning why America was involved in Nicaragua:
- The government created a special office just to control the story
- They wouldn’t let reporters into areas unless they promised to write “good” stories
- They cut funding to news organizations that told the truth
- They made sure anyone who questioned the official story lost their job
When “Nice” Control Doesn’t Work, They Use Force
History shows us that when people stop believing the official stories, those in power get aggressive:
World War 1
- Made it illegal to speak against the war
- Put immigrant activists in jail
- Shut down newspapers that questioned the war
- Attacked labor unions that opposed the war
Vietnam War
- FBI spied on peace groups
- Police attacked protesters
- National Guard killed student protesters
- Put anti-war activists on government watchlists
Today
- Government reads our messages and emails
- Police use military equipment against protesters
- People who expose government secrets go to jail
- FBI watches activist groups
- Social media companies hide certain posts
What This Really Means
All these examples show us something important: America isn’t really a democracy for everyone. It’s a democracy for the rich – the capitalist class. Here’s how it works:
- The wealthy class tries to control what we think through:
- The TV networks they own
- The newspapers they control
- The social media companies they invest in
- The politicians they fund
- When that doesn’t work, they use force through:
- The police
- Government agencies
- Laws that restrict protest
- Surveillance and watchlists
Why Understanding This Matters
Once you see this pattern, a lot of things start making sense:
- Why housing keeps getting more expensive
- Why it’s so hard to get good healthcare
- Why wars keep happening even when most people oppose them
- Why politicians promise change but nothing really changes
What Can We Do?
Understanding how power really works is the first step. When we see through the illusion, we can:
- Connect with others who understand this too
- Join organizations that fight for real change
- Share what we learn with friends and family
- Support independent media that tells the truth
- Stand together when they try to divide us
Remember: They don’t want us to understand how much power we could have if we worked together. That’s why they try so hard to control what we see, hear, and think. But the TikTok ban shows us they’re getting nervous – people are starting to see through the illusion.